I read most, but not all of this thread, and have not seen what I heard of that happened many years ago here in Texas.
Like I said, this happened years ago, and I was a teen when it happened, and was not privy to all of the details. Most of what I know was transferred through the 'gossip' grapevine.
There was a man who was very popular in the local TV scene. He was a tv personality for many years. He was really into the JW religion, and so was always careful how he approached holidays, birthdays, etc on his tv show (it was a children's show - showing cartoons and interviewing kiddos on the show).
Anyway, he retired, and moved from the local area to the hill country just north of the city. He and his wife went to a local small-town KH. Somewhere along the way, he decided he was one of the 'annointed'. A few years later... guess what? His wife, also, decided she was one of the 'annointed'. This raised a few eyebrows, but most accepted their choice and decision - after all... it was considered a matter between them and god.
We didn't hear much from them until one day shock went through all of the local congregations with the news that both of them had been DF'ed. Not much in the gossip chain as to the 'why' of it, just that they were DF'ed. This, of course, had many speculating as to why, but no one really had any answers as to why.
A few months passed, and news came through the 'gossip' chain that they both had appealed their DF'ing - to Brooklyn - and were 'exonerated' - that was the word used, which was unusual to all of us. Not re-instated, nor any other term that might have been used. No, 'exonerated'.
Also, there was news going around that a 'team' from Brooklyn was being dispatched to investigate the congregation that DF'ed the two.
I don't think anything ever came of the investigation though, because years later the same yahoos were elders in that KH.
I don't know what ever hapened to this man and his wife. Hopefully, they got out of the JWs, and spent the rest of their lives free from the religion, but probably not.
This was the only time that I had ever heard of anyone being 'exonerated', after appealing their DF'ing. But, I wasn't on the inside track, and really didn't hear too much info, unless it was on the 'gossip' line.
Regards,
Jim TX